WalkwayThe Quail Island Walkway starting at the new wharf offers a circumference walk (2 hour round trip), and a shorter one-hour option. The easy walk takes in a view of the shipwrecks, leprosy graves and the kennels used for Scott's quarantined dogs.

Volcanic CliffsThere are excellent examples of volcanic cliffs, which show how the island was formed 16 million years ago.

The Wards' SettlementThe Ward brothers bought part of Quail Island in 1851 and erected a small cottage. They farmed the island for just 2 months before tragedy struck; the 2 brothers where drowned taking firewood to the island.

Ballast QuarriesEarly sailing ships arriving into Lyttelton often had to load up on return journeys with ballast rocks to keep their ships stable. Two sites on the island can be seen where tonnes of rock was taken from 1850 -1874.

ShipwrecksInvestigate 8 shipwrecks, which can be seen on the western side of the island.

Leprosy ColonyIn 1907, the island was home to the first and only leprosy colony in New Zealand. One lonely soul died here and his grave can be viewed on the island. Up to 9 patients were housed here at its peak.

Antarctic LinksRobert Falcon Scott used Quail Island for quarantining and training dogs, ponies and mules for his Antarctic expeditions in 1901 and again prior to his ill-fated expedition to the South Pole in 1910. A replica kennel can be seen. Ernst Shackleton also used the island for this purpose in 1907.

Human and Animal QuarantinesIn 1874 a quarantine station was built to isolate those immigrants who had spent 3 months at sea in cramped conditions with lack of fresh food and exercise. These conditions increased chances of disease and sickness. All imported stock from England had to be quarantined before arriving in Lyttelton.

Maori UseThe island was used for the collection of food - seabird eggs and fishing mostly by Maori children. The Maori name for the island is Otamahua, which means 'place to gather sea-bird eggs'.

The QuailsIn 1842, the first European to set foot on the island, Captain Mein Smith, flushed a number of now-extinct native quail from the bush and named the island after the birds.

The Fine Print

Vouchers valid from Sep 24, 2016 all the way to Mar 26, 2017

Multiple vouchers may be purchased (Limit: 10 for you and 10 gifts for others)